Nu Poe Solar Panel Installation

From the 18th of August, 2008 until the 22nd of August, 2008, BGET, with funding from the Japan based organization Wakachiai, installed a 480 watt solar panel array for the Camp Committee office of Nu Poe camp in Umphang Province, Thailand.




It's been said that Nu Poe camp is the "best" of all the refugee camps along the border in Thailand, in the sense that it is not too overcrowded, they have plenty of food provided by the UN, the people seem to be mostly happy and at peace, and it also seems people have success with resettlement to third countries if they choose that path.


But the author still would not want to live there... economic opportunities are few and far between, freedom of travel is restricted, quality of education does not seem high, etc.


Oh, and the roads are dotted with large, unavoidable puddles of mud.

Nu Poe refugees are encouraged to resettle to third countries such as the USA with billboards like this displaying foreign foods. Whether this is a good thing or not is up for debate.

The solar panel array consists of six 80 W Sharp NE-080T1J panels and will power two desktop computers, an 18 watt fluorescent light, a printer, and also has outlets to occasionally provide power to other small devices such as radios and battery chargers. In addition to reducing pollution, the system will reduce the Camp Committee dependence on a 3 kW diesel generator, its current source of power which uses 300 liters of fuel per month.



Other major components of the system include a Leonics Apollo S-210 series inverter to change the current from DC to AC, a Leonics Solarcon SET- series controller to charge the batteries and manage the input and output power, and four 3K EB65V 12V lead acid batteries for storing solar power.



The savings in fuel cost will help reduce debt, pay for basic office supplies and possibly help pay the salaries of those employed by the camp office, which are extremely low. The computers and other equipment are provided to complete essential office work and also to help refugees attain a higher level of education that they might not otherwise receive.

The following is a brief account of the events that took place during the installation:
18/08/08 - Pack the truck to the brim with equipment and food.
Drive along the infamous "Death's Highway" toward Umphang for at least 5 hours. It's called Death's Highway because in the past many people were killed from ambushes from one type of person or another. That doesn't happen anymore but the road is very narrow and winding and the scenery is very beautiful so people still die on it occasionally due to accidents.



Drive into the camp along a muddy road to unload equipment.
Enjoy an amazing dinner cooked by the very capable Karen staff.
Did not enjoy a very cold shower provided by a bucket and sleeping on a very hard floor.

19-08-08 - Today we really worked.


Cut down a couple trees,


dig some holes,

take some measurements,



cut and place the transmission poles,


run the wiring,


place the panel base, adjust to face south with an angle of 16 degrees to the ground for maximum sun capturing ability,


and construct the frame.





Install the panels and wire for 24 V operation.

Connect ground wire to panel frame and drive ground rod into the earth. For the map junkies out there, the panel coordinates are N 15 deg, 51.118' and E 98 deg, 40.606'.

20-08-08 - Morning:

Install controller, inverter, switches, and breakers into the computer room.

Finish wiring for lights, computers, and system components. Connect the batteries. The moment of truth...

Controller LED's indicate a full charge and solar power is available! Connect the loads and test. Hey, it works! Success!

Old wiring. Note safety pins used to connect wire to lights.

Afternoon: Interview with camp leader. Possibly the most informative part of the trip and is the source of most of the camp information in this article. This mans name was Lahset. He is 66 years old but has a good sense of humor, is full of energy and sharp as a tack. Unlike across the border in Burma, he was elected into this position, and had been working at this job on and off since 1992, but he is looking to retire soon. He used to own 100 rai of land (just under 40 acres, or 160 square meters), but lost it all without compensation when the Burmese government nationalized the economy. In 1987, he fled Burma where his family remains. He can't go back into Burma because the government has put on a price on his head that is too low to print.

His job is to oversee all aspects of the camp including cooperation with the nearby Thai village, Thai authorities, NGO's and camp refugees. He says there are 18,633 people living in the camp, 20 ethnic groups, and many different religions. He has to prevent internal conflicts and make sure people stay at peace. He also must coordinate committees on education, agriculture and religion.

Funds are extremely tight and his organization really needs funding. He says there are 126 workers who collectively receive 96,000 baht per month, or about 762 baht per month per person on average. The equivalent in U.S. dollars would be about $23 at current rates. Lahset himself only gets paid 1350 baht per month. Between 1995-2005 he was not paid as leader of the camp committee, but he stays for his people. A teacher gets paid about 500 baht per month.

The savings from reduced dependence on the diesel generator probably wouldn't increase their salaries, but would mose likely be used to pay off debts, buy pens, computer paper, ink, and other basic materials. Current energy needs are for the beforementioned lights and computers, but also video devices and loudspeakers for special community events and occasional celebrations.

From left: Thai, Suntii, Joshua, Lahset, Gayhtoo, Salinee

21 and 22-08-08 - Student training.
We have about 30 students who speak one or more of Burmese, Karen, Thai, and English.

Some students appear more interested than others but every single one is there because they chose to come. Students are aged 20-46 and there are 4 women. Most of these people did not have jobs and some had been away from their home in Burma for 20 years. Students were given training basic fundamental concepts like power, current, and voltage, as well as more specific knowledge like how to test to see if a battery is still good, how to use a multimeter, and how to ensure the panels are collecting maximum energy.

BGET hired a translator named Moongpu who could speak English and Burmese.

For those who made it to the end, we presented them with certificates of completion and took a group photo.

The solar training students and staff pose for a picture in front of the panel.